The Guardian is reporting that the picture was posted on the personal Instagram site of Mor Ostrovski, a 20-year-old serving in the IDF.

The newspaper said that Ostrovski has in the meantime closed his Instagram account, and that he told the army he "did not take the picture but found it on the internet."

Palestinian officials have condemned the publishing of the photograph, saying it was proof that the Israeli army was acting with impunity. "Every Palestinian mother is worried about her child... Because of the picture that has now been seen across the world," Palestinian government spokesperson Noor Odeh has said.

The Israeli soldier's action has sparked outrage outside of Palestine as well. Although it was not possible to determine its authenticity, the message sent by Ostrovski was clear, said reports.

The Israeli military, in the meanwhile, said it was looking into the incident, and that such behavior "was not in line with the spirit and the values of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)".

Disciplinary action has been taken in the past against Israeli soldiers who chose to post online photographs showing them posing next to Palestinian detainees.